Trips – Handoff Underneath with Option for Over the Top

Setup: Trips – Wide, Slot, Tight

Read: Deep to Short

Tight – Hand off

Slot – Corner

Center – Go

Tight – Slant

Wide – Hook

Description:

This play has a run option that will be most effective if facing a man defense. There is no pre snap motion. Once the quarterback calls for the ball, the Tight receiver turns back and runs in front of the quarterback looking for the hand off. If the quarterback fakes the hand off, the first passing option is the Slot receiver on the Corner route. This route is good for goal line situations where the line of scrimmage is about 10 yards out. The throw is a timing route. The QB fakes the hand off and throws toward the back corner immediately.

Through the normal reads of the play, if the Slot receiver is covered, the next option is the Center running a Go/Streak/9. This is usually not open that often, but it does open up the middle for the Tight receiver (Red) running a Slant coming back across the field. With the Red receiver, timing is critical. Red should extend route almost half way to the sideline before turning back toward the middle.

The final option is the Wide receiver on the hook on the sideline. This route is mainly to occupy a defender on that side where it may open up the corner route for Green. However, if the defender drops to cover Green, then the Blue receiver is a good outlet option.

Play Variation:

One play variation that can be a big hitter is having the Center stop the route at about 7-10 yards and the Blue receiver runs a delayed post route. Basically, if Green is covered by a safety, the deep middle may wide open for the Blue on the post route. You can also have the Center (Black) run a corner route opposite of Green which may open up the middle even more Blue on the post route.

Another Trips Running Play:

Here is another running play with a tight trips formation. This play is geared toward younger ages mainly because older teams tend to be more disciplined with their defense. However, you may find situations where this play will work even with older ages.